Car Issues

1.            Car insurance is one of the many costs that host parents incur when they have an au pair.

Host parents who need the au pair to drive a car as part of his or her work duties obviously pay for the car insurance, just as they pay for the gas and for the tuition at the Gymboree class.

Host parents who offer access to a car as part of the perks of being with the host family (and, frankly, as a way to let an au pair maintain an independent social life) also pay for car insurance.

Offering an au pair the use of a car without her or him being insured to drive it is like offering the au pair a car with only three wheels.

Your au pair can’t drive legally in a car with three wheels and your aupair cannot drive legally without insurance.

2.            Discuss the full costs of your au pair’s driving privileges with your au pair.

When you sit down with your au pair to talk over car rules, driving expectations, and family car management, this can be a good time to share with your au pair a breakout of the costs involved in having him or her use the car. You might mention the costs of additional insurance, additional wear and tear ,and depreciation in value as the mileage is racked up by late night drives from one Starbucks/McDonads to another.

You can also use this time to discuss some of the other costs of providing a car for your au pair, including the extra effort it might take to coordinate the schedules of several drivers, what a pain it is when the car is parked in the wrong place, and your general worries about your au pair’s safety in the car.

The point is not to make the au pair feel guilty about being a burden or costing you money  — so don’t lay it on too thick. And, be sure that if you harbor any resentment about these extra costs, you deal with that resentment before you talk with your au pair.

Driving is a privilege!!  But it’s only a privilege when you provide your au pair with a safe, legal, and insured car to drive.

3.         Should you let your aupair drive in the Snow?

Of course, there are a million variables that affect this decision. Here are some:

• Is snow frequent or rare?
  Is the snow deep, light, icy?
  Does your car have 4 wheel drive?
  Is your car a Volvo?
  Is your car already beat up, or rather new?
• Is your au pair a good driver?
  Has s/he got lots of experience driving in snow?
  Is s/he from Sweden, Norway, Finland, Northern Canada?
• Is the specific trip urgent or discretionary?
  Daylight or after dark?
  With children or without?
• Are drivers in your area generally comfortable in snow?
  Do you live on a hill?
  Are your town roads well plowed?
  Can you avoid hilly or unplowed roads to get to where you want to go?

• Can you afford to lose your (au pair) car to a body shop for a week or two?

Have a reasonable conversation with your aupair about the need for her to drive and always follow your gut. Always put safety first.